The spectrum and luminosity of the low-redshift QSO 0241+622

Spectrophotometry of 0241+622, the stellar low-redshift emission-line object associated with the faint X-ray source 4U 0241+61, is presented. It is found that the spectrum of this object is similar to those of numerous QSOs and Seyfert galaxies, that the forbidden lines yield a redshift of approximately 0.0438, and that the Balmer emission lines are extraordinarily broad, implying a full-width zero intensity of 24,000 km/s in the rest frame. A distinguishing feature of the spectrum is the presence of very prominent unredshifted interstellar absorption lines and bands, indicating that interstellar extinction in the Galaxy is very important for 0241+622. The extinction is estimated quantitatively on the basis of the equivalent widths of interstellar features, the continuum spectral index, the Balmer decrement, the luminosity in H-beta, and 21-cm emission measurements. An absolute visual magnitude of -25.3 is derived which lies well within the luminosity range normally attributed to QSOs.